INIQUITY SHALL ABOUND
(Lawlessness)
INTRODUCTION
Iniquity shall abound is absence of moral or spiritual values; morally objectionable behavior, lack of righteousness with an ungoverned appetite. It further entails lawless disorder, defiance of the law, not subject nor restrained by the law, entertaining civil disturbance, and willful disobedience.
There is much unrest in the world with tyranny gaining an upper hand. The forces of evil have captivated the soul of man in such a way that there is little reasoning towards a peaceful solution.
Iniquity Shall Abound
Defying Laws of Decency
Apostle Paul wrote: We know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for menslayers.
For whoremongers (fornicators), for them that defile themselves with mankind (sodomites), for menstealers (kidnappers), for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine (1 Timothy 1:8-10). It was noted that the lawless and disobedient are the ones who are defying the laws of decency and righteousness; being egged on by satanic influences that attempt to annihilate the righteous.
Abating of Love
Jesus said: Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax (grow) cold (Matthew 24:12). When such plays into the picture it promotes two things: The abounding of iniquity (lawlessness) and the abating of love.
It was noted that wickedness has always been a factor since the murder of Abel; yet there are times in which iniquity abounds in a special way; more extensive than ordinary. When violence has risen; it seems as if all hell (a place of eternal punishment) has broken loose with the love of mankind taking a back seat.
There is no love when one brings injury to their fellow man; there is no love when one brings harm to others in a dominating manner; there is no love when one destroys in an ill-conceived way. There are lawful ways to accomplish change; as established in the democracy of a nation.
A Nation Divided
There are nations with extreme persecution; with immoral and lawless disorder becoming an uncontrollable element, with an inroad to disaster because of forsaking God! There has been a desperate attempt to appease those who are causing the most harm; however, there is no appeasement without the benefit of the God of peace coming to the forefront.
It was noted that we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand that preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthen us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these things were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own; a nation divided cannot stand (Abraham Lincoln).
Jesus said: Every nation divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand (Matthew 12:25). A great loss is suffered in warfare; if unity (rather than division) prevails it would not necessitate war! A peaceful solution is obviously the best solution; especially when one does not tie the hand of God by eliminating Him as the solution.
The Pulpit is Responsible
A legendary evangelist of the first Great Awakening, Charles G. Finney stated: Brethren, our preaching will bear its legitimate fruits. If immorality prevails in the land, the fault is ours to a great degree. If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of Justice, the pulpit is responsible for it.
If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it. Let us not ignore this fact; but let us lay it to heart, and awake to our responsibility in respect to the morals of this nation.
Disruptive Nature
Point of Origin
Iniquity shall abound has become a reality in the days in which we live; becoming more extensive with its disruptive nature, resulting in abatement of loving one's fellow man. It was noted when iniquity (lawlessness) abounds, seducing iniquity, and persecuting iniquity, love grows cold. The devil is the accuser, working through others to dampen the love of one's fellowman. Iniquity shall abound is through devilish impulses placed by Satan in his desire to seduce mankind.
Apostle Paul wrote: The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle to all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves (are in opposition); if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgment of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at (to do) his will (2 Timothy 2:24-26). This affirms where iniquity shall abound point of origin is!
Blatant Iniquity
Iniquity shall abound is also described as blatant iniquity in God's Word: The Psalmist wrote: The fool has said in his heart, there is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: There is none that does good (Psalm 53:1). Prophet Isaiah wrote: Woe to them that draw (drag) iniquity with cords of vanity (falsehood), and sin as with a cart rope (Isaiah 5:18).
Prophet Micah: Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work (work out) evil upon their beds! When the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand (Micah 2:1). It is unfortunate that by looking the other way laws are violated; with iniquity shall abound becoming the norm of the day, rather than peaceful solutions!
Those Who Relish
Iniquity (Lawlessness)
Scripture gives warning to those who relish iniquity: The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth (the land) (Proverbs 10:29-30).
God's Word encourages endorsing the truths of His righteous way: By mercy and truth iniquity is purged (atonement provided): and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil (Proverbs 16:6). Apostle Paul wrote: Rejoice not in iniquity but rejoice in truth (1 Corinthians 13:6).
Spewing Hatred
We are seeing many lash out with the tongue; spewing hatred. Apostle James wrote: The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; so is the tongue (so set) among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and it is set on fire of hell (James 3:6). The tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison (James 3:8).
We are seeing a lashing out of the tongue for political or other gain; with no regard to the harm or damage it brings about, but rather relishing in doing so!
Last Days
Perilous Times
Iniquity shall abound is a fulfilling of Scripture. Apostle Paul wrote: This know that in the last days (which we are in) perilous times shall come (2 Timothy 3:1). All that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Evil men, and seducers shall wax (grow) worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:12-13).
When a nation begins to be overrun by the evilness of man attempting to wipe out Christianity; one only has to fall back on God's Word, that tells the fate of those who have fallen into the role of the ungodly; unless repentance comes to the forefront.
The Psalmist wrote: Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly (wicked), nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful (Psalm 1:1). The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind drives away (Psalm 1:4). For the Lord knows the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish (Psalm 1:6).
Encouragement for
Believer in Christ
Scripture reveals that iniquity shall abound; but it also gives encouragement to the believer in Christ. Apostle Paul wrote: Who shall separate us (the believer) from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword (Romans 8:35)?
No, in all these things are are more than conquerors, that neither death, nor life, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:37-39).
Riotous times may come; dissension may arise, but the hope of the believer is in God's provision! After stating that iniquity shall abound are found these words: Jesus said: He that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved (Matthew 24:13). Let us, the believers in Christ, hold fast to many assurances found in God's Word, towards the future of the faithful; for there is no such assurance to those who have not found the love of Christ in their heart.
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